Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has outlined measures taken by the government to address the inflow of opioid drugs into the country.
Delivering a statement on illegal opioids in Parliament on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, he stated that a taskforce had been formed to tighten surveillance to ensure that no harmful substances are allowed into the country.
“A joint taskforce involving the FDA, the Narcotics Control Commission, Customs, and the Ghana Revenue Authority has intensified checks at major entry points to prevent further unauthorized imports, leading to the destruction of a large consignment of Tramadol and similar drugs,” he stated.
He stressed the need for public awareness campaigns to be intensified.
“A national education campaign has been launched to warn the public about the dangers of illicit opioid use and to encourage responsible medication practices,” he stated.
Despite these efforts, he acknowledged ongoing challenges, pointing out specific weaknesses in enforcement.
“We have noted the following challenges that impede an effective response and require urgent attention, unmanned borders allow for the illegal movement of opioids into Ghana, limited inspection capacity for transit goods destined for other countries enables unregistered drugs to leak into the Ghanaian market, and intelligence-sharing mechanisms between the FDA, Customs, and NACOB remain suboptimal,” he noted.
The health minister stressed the importance of a coordinated approach, emphasising the critical need for an interagency response to this crisis.
His comments follow a recent investigative report which exposed the illegal importation and distribution of unregistered opioid medications into Ghana and other West African nations.
According to the documentary, pharmaceutical companies, including India-based Aveo Pharmaceuticals, have been exporting unlicensed opioid formulations into the country.
These drugs, which are not approved for medical use anywhere in the world, have been linked to rising cases of substance dependency, mental health disorders, and other severe health complications.
JKB/AE
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